The Spy heard the sad news that former Washington College professor and nationally known author Robert Day passed away in his native state of Kansas this morning.
Bob Day had been the driving force behind Washington College’s highly-regarded literary programs in the 1970s and 1980s, bringing to the Eastern Shore some of the most distinguished writers of the era, including Allen Ginsberg, Katherine Anne Porter, William Stafford, Toni Morrison, Joseph Brodsky, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Anthony Burgess, Edward Albee, poet Billy Collins and William Kennedy.
The Spy staff will be preparing a more expansive tribute to Bob over the next few days. In the meantime, we thought our readers would enjoy our interview with him from 2010 when he talked to us about his life of teaching and writing.
Michael Ludden says
After I graduated from Washington College, I spent 25 years as a newspaper reporter and editor and led a team that won a Pulitzer, followed by 10 years at CNN. Now I’m working on my fourth book. Bob Day had something to do with that and I find myself hugely disappointed that I never saw him again to thank him. As his Spangler Tukle might say… Day did a “bang up job.”
Jamie Kirkpatrick says
Bob was one of a kind. That mold is now broken.
Chap Bowie says
Best teacher I ever had. He’d push a pile of contemporary poetry books across the table on Monday afternoon and say, “See you Friday.”
Marie Thomas says
Loved the video – So Bob ! We were neighbors for many years on Clark Rd. He and My husband Ken Thomas would pass jokes back and forth. I always felt that they were trying to top each other. Bob loved using the chain saw and we would always cringe. We had many laughs and good times on Clark Rd. Bob’s wife Kathy was a saint . We would shake Our heads many times over the shenanigans of Bob and Ken!!
Drew Gruenburg says
Best teacher I ever had as well. He once came into class a little late, sat down at a table in the front the of the room and without introduction started reading Capote’s “A Christmas Memory.” As he finished, he stood up, said “Class dismissed,” and walked out. I suspect he might cringe, or at least chuckle, if he read this, but It was a poignant teaching moment that has stayed with me for decades.
Kimberly Madigan says
We were fortunate to have Bob Day next door, at the Literary House. Bob made the extraordinary opportunities we were afforded, seem commonplace and well deserved, (the open-door writing work-shops/our recurring exposure to renown authors). Years later, we recognize the literary environment Bob Day created was rare. He was a stalwart defender of, and advocate for, novice writers, throughout campus, Professor Day perpetuated an underlying assumption every student was a writer, regardless of our field of study. He held poly-sci majors equally accountable for the written word. Bob Day played an important role, laying the groundwork for our literary culture at Washington College. Bob had a way of guiding students to develop our potential and to embrace our strengths. His legacy will live on, in each of us.
Sydney Johnson Petty says
He put our literary program on the map, and exposed us to the many famous writers he invited to the campus to meet us and talk to us. He also treated us like serious professionals — really creative teacher with an encouraging vision. Bob Day will be missed!